TDP leader Onteri Pratap Reddy today demanded that the TRS government withdraw its counter petition filed in the High Court in connection with farmers suicides.

Speaking to the media here on Friday, Pratap Reddy said instead of helping the farmers in the State, the TRS government has filed a counter petition stating that most of the farmers committed suicide due to clashes between the husband and wife, children’s problem, non-payment of loan taken privately for education of their children in private schools and unable to perform their children’s marriages.

Condemning the claim of the State government, Pratap Reddy said the TRS government had neglected the farmers from the day one it came to power in the State. He said 1900 farmers have committed suicides in the State. Even the National Crime Records Bureau has shown the figure as 989 farmers. But the TRS government was giving wrong figures saying that only 296 farmers, who committed suicides due to agriculture related problems.

Demanding immediate payment of Rs six lakh ex-gratia to family members of deceased farmers, the TDP leader said the State government should announce additional Rs 1000 MSP to cotton farmers and curb the middlemen system in this trade. (NSS)